Pollution preventive burner system

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a burner system for use with boilers and furnaces, including a rotary cup burner having a combustion chamber and means for igniting a fuel oil and air mixture discharged into the chamber by a rotary cup nozzle. The fuel oil is supplied to the burner under pressure, and its flow rate is controlled by an automatically operated valve. Actuation of the valve is effected by a modulating motor, which, in turn, is controlled by a thermostat coupled to the furnace or boiler. The valve comprises a housing having inlet and outlet ports, and includes a valve chamber therewithin having triangularly shaped openings communicating with the inlet and outlet ports. A valve member is rotatably disposed within the chamber and linked for movement to the modulating motor. The valve member takes the form of a cylinder having a cutout portion extending angularly thereof for imparting a shearing action at the triangularly shaped openings in the valve chamber, thereby dislodging any sediment which may collect at the openings, while also providing an accurately controlled flow of oil due to the adjustable position of the angular edge of the valve member with respect to the converging edges of the triangularly shaped chamber openings.

United States Patent Crosta [54] POLLUTION PREVENTIVE BURNER SYSTEM [72] Inventor: David Crosta, 16 Woodland Avenue,

Pompton Plains, NJ. 07444 [22] Filed: Dec. 14, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 97,629

Primary Examiner-Edward G. Favors Att0rneyCharles E. Baxley, Frank M. Nolan and Thomas E. Tate 51 May 2,1972

[5 7] ABSTRACT Disclosed herein is a burner system for use with boilers and furnaces, including a rotary cup burner having a combustion chamber and means for igniting a fuel oil and air mixture discharged into the chamber by a rotary cup nozzle. The fuel oil is supplied to the burner under pressure, and its flow rate is controlled by an automatically operated valve. Actuation of the valve is effected by a modulating motor, which, in turn, is controlled by a thermostat coupled to the furnace or boiler. The valve comprises a housing having inlet and outlet ports, and includes a valve chamber therewithin having triangularly shaped openings communicating with the inlet and outlet ports. A valve member is rotatably disposed within the chamber and linked for movement to the modulating motor. The valve member takes the form ofa cylinder having a cutout portion extending angularly thereof for imparting a shearing action at the triangularly shaped openings in the valve chamber, thereby dislodging any sediment which may collect at the openings, while also providing an accurately controlled flow of oil due to the adjustable position of the angular edge of the valve member with respect to the converging edges of the triangularly shaped chamber openings.

12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures MODULATING MOTOR l 1 L/3o 24 i 26 28 a; VALVE PATENTEBMYE m2 3, 660.006

MODULATING MOTOR FIG. I

INVENTOR. Li DAVID CROSTA Attorney POLLUTION PREVENTIVE BURNER SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Commercial burners for boilers and furnaces are notorious producers of air pollutants, and a primary reason for this is the ractical inability of burner manufacturers to design a system which operates at maximum efficiency to provide a complete burning of the combustible fuel which is used. For example, oil burners have been found to be highly economical to operate, but the burning of fuel oil often produces large quantities of smoke and soot. In an attempt to overcome these deficiencies, rotary cup burners have been made commercially available for atomizing the fuel oil, and for mixing it with a supply of air, wherein it is possible to provide a substantially soot-and smoke-free combustion if the proportions of oil and air are optimized. However, efforts to optimize these proportions over a long period of time have been inadequate due primarily to inaccurate metering of the fuel oil, and clogging of the valving apparatus which controls the flow of oil to the burner.

Thus, it is a principal object of this invention to provide such a rotary cup burner system including a fuel oil supply system for accurately and reliably feeding fuel to the burner over a long period of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention there is provided a pollution preventive burner apparatus for boilers and furnaces, comprising a rotary cup burner for atomizing an oil supply and mixing it with a quantity of air, whereupon the oil and air mixture is discharged into a combustion chamber. The oil is supplied to the burner through a pressurized line, said line having a metering valve disposed therein and actuated by a modulating motor which is operated in response to an output ofa thermostatic control within the burner apparatus. The valve provides an accurately controlled flow of oil so that the oil-air mixture supplied to the combustion chamber may be reliably optimized.

The metering valve comprises a housing having inlet and outlet ports coupled respectively to an oil supply, and to the oil inlet of the rotary cup burner. A valve chamber having a pair of opposed triangular openings in its side walls is provided within the housing, said openings being in communication, respectively, with the inlet and outlet ports of the valve. A valve member is mounted for rotation within the valve chamber, for selectively sealing either of the triangular openings against communication with the chamber, and said valve member has a stern extending outwardly of the housing for rotational actuation by the modulating motor. The .valve member has a particular configuration defined by a sharply truncated cylinder which has sharp edges for providing a rotational shearing action with respect to the triangular openings in the chamber, thereby providing the double function of removing any sediment which may become lodged in the chamber at the openings, and providing a highly accurate means for metering the amount of oil which passes through the valve, due to the angular edge of the valve member and the converging edges of the triangular openings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. I is a schematic diagram of a burner system embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the valve assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a portion of the valve assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

name

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, there is provided a rotary cup burner 10 having an air intake opening 12, an oil intake conduit 14, and a rotary cup nozzle 16 for discharging an oil and air mixture into a combustion chamber 18, having means for igniting the fuel and air mixture. The oil received through the supply line 14 is atomized by a rotating cup within the nozzle 16, and mixed therein with the supply of air to provide an appropriate combustion mixture. The air is driven by a fan 20 mounted behind the rotary cup, and both the fan and rotary cup are driven by a motor 22 mounted on a frame for the burner.

In accordance with the invention, a modulating valve 24 is disposed in the oil intake conduit 14, said valve having an inlet port 26 for connection to a pressurized supply of oil, and an outlet port 28 connected through the oil conduit 14 to the burner 10.

Opening and closing of the valve 24 for controlling the supply of oil to the burner 10 is accomplished by a mechanical linkage 30 connected between the valve 24 and a modulating motor 32 which drives the valve between its open and closed positions in response to signals received through an electrical conductor 34 from a thermostat 36 disposed for sensing the temperature within the combustion chamber 18.

The valve 24, as shown in detail in FIGS. 2-4 comprises a solid housing 40 having threaded axially aligned bores 42 and 44 provided in opposing sides thereof. The bores 42 and 44 communicate respectively at their outermost portions with the inlet and outlet ports 26 and 28 of the valve. Thus, conduits connected to the pressurized oil supply and the burner 10 can be threadably connected to the valve 24 at the bores 42 and 44.

A valve chamber 46 is disposed centrally of the housing, and triangularly shaped orifices 48 and 50 are provided in opposing side walls of the chamber 46 and in communication with the bores 42 and 44 respectively. A truncated cylindrically shaped valve member 52 is received within the chamber 46, and has a valve stem 54 connected thereto for rotating the valve member to seal the valve chamber against fluid flow through one or the other of the triangularly shaped orifices 48 or 50. The valve housing 40 has a bore 56 extending perpendicularly of the bores 42 and 44, through which the valve stem 54 extends outwardly of the housing 40. The bore 56 has a larger diameter than the cylindrically shaped chamber 46, and is in communication therewith for receiving a bushing 58 disposed within the bore 56 for rotatably supporting the valve stem 54, and a sealing washer 60 received on the stem for preventing the flow of oil outwardly of the bore 56. A pressure bushing 62 having a flange 64 is received over the stem, so that the pressure bushing 62 contacts the sealing washer 60 and compresses it against the bushing 58 to deform the washer into sealing contact against the wall of the bore 56 and against the surface of the stem 54, thereby providing an oil proof seal. Such deformation of the washer 60 is caused by axial pressure exerted by the pressure bushing 62 by means of a force applied on the flange 64 by screws 66 which pass through openings in the flange for threadable reception in the housing 40.

The valve stem 54 is connected by means of a nut 68 to the mechanical linkage 30 for rotation thereby in response to actuation of the modulating motor 32. Preferably, the valve stem 54 and valve member 52 are formed of stainless steel, while the housing 40 and bushings 58 and 62 are formed of brass, and the washer 60 is formed of teflon.

The valve member 52, as shown in profile in FIGS. 2 and 4, comprises a truncated solid cylinder having a cutout portion extending angularly from its end, and adjacent one side thereof, towards the axis of the cylinder to a point wherein the cutout portion extends past the entire horizontal extent of the triangular orifices, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the valve member is received within the chamber 46. The resultant slanted wall 70 of the valve member, which results from the cutout portion, is disposed at an angle with the horizontal which is greater than the corresponding angle of the uppermost side 72 of each of the triangularly shaped orifices, as they are viewed in FIG. 2. Therefore, such orifices can be effectively opened to communication with the chamber between limits defined by the rather minute opening permitted by the intersection of the end of the valve member and the vertex 73 of each triangular orifice, wherein such opening can be increased to a full-open position by further rotation of the valve stem.

Representative relative values for the dimensions of the valve member 52 and triangular orifices 48 and 50, which have been found to yield optimum results, are as follows: With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, each orifice 48 and 50 comprises an isosceles triangle having a base (74) dimension of about one-fourth inch and a horizontal extent of about one-half inch; while the valve member has a diameter of about one-half inch, a length of about 1 inch, an inclined wall length at 70, of about three-fourth inch, and an angle, between the inclined wall 70 and the horizontal, of about also, superior results are realized by providing an angular cut in the valve member 52, of about 20, measured with the vertical, as indicated by reference numeral 75, although the inclined wall 75 does not intersect with any part of the triangular orifices 48 and 50.

Thus, the valve 24 comprises a structure for accurately controlling the quantity of oil which is supplied to the burner 10. Therefore, the system illustrated in FIG. 1 provides a burner system which yields a remarkably low quantity of pollutants since the oil and air mixture supplied to the combustion chamber can be controlled to a very high degree of accuracy by means of the system shown in FIG. 1, which incorporates the specific valve structure shown in FIGS. 2-4.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the housing 40 can be provided with a fourth orifice 80 for threadably receiving a fluid pressure gauge 82 disposed in communication with either of the inlet or outlet ports 26 and 28, so that the oil pressure within the system can be monitored.

Thus, it can be seen that the valve 24, the elements of which are formed of oil impervious materials, comprises a relatively simple structure having a single moving part 52-54, thereby yielding a highly reliable valve while providing a highly accurate oil metering device.

lclaim:

l. A pollution preventive burner apparatus comprising a rotary cup burner; a valve having inlet port means for connection to a pressurized oil supply, and an outlet port connected to said rotary cup burner; valve control motor means and means connecting said motor means to said valve for operating said valve between open and closed positions in response to operation of said motor; and control means connected between said motor means and said burner for operating said motor means in response to temperature changes of said burner; said valve including a housing having walls defining a chamber therein, and defining first and second opposed triangular orifices in the walls of said chamber and in communication, respectively, with said inlet port means and said outlet port, a truncated cylindrical valve member rotatably disposed within said chamber, said valve member having cylindrical surface means for being rotatably positioned to seal either of said triangular orifices against communication with said chamber, and having edge means disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of said cylindrical valve member for providing a shearing action upon the edges of said triangular orifices in response to rotation of said valve member, a valve stem connected between one end of said valve member and said means connecting said motor means to said valve, and sealing means for providing a fluid-tight seal between said valve stem and housing.

2. A pollution preventive burner apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which each said triangular orifice has a cross-sectional form of an isosceles triangle having a bisector line disposed in parallel with the axis of said valve member, and having its vertex disposed adjacent the other end of said valve member opposite said valve stem, said angular edge means of said truncated cylindrical valve member defining an angle with the axis of said valve member which is greater than the bisecting angle of each said triangular orifice.

3. A pollution preventive burner apparatus as set forth in claim 2, in which said angular edge means is defined by a truncated portion of said cylindrical valve member, said truncated portion extending angularly along a first plane from said other end of said valve member, at a position adjacent one side thereof, through the axis of said valve member, and then an gularly along a second plane from a line of intersection with said first plane, to a side of said valve member diametrically opposite said one side thereof.

4. A pollution preventive burner apparatus as set forth in claim 3, in which said first and second planes are disposed normal to each other, and in which said second plane ofsaid valve member is spaced from said triangular orifices in all positions of rotation of said valve member.

5. A pollution preventive burner apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said sealing means comprises a first bushing disposed within said chamber and around said valve stem, said bushing having one end adjacent said valve member, a resilient washer disposed within said chamber and around said valve stem, said washer having one end adjacent the other end of said bushing, and pressure means connected to said housing and in engagement with the other end of said washer for compressing said washer against said bushing.

6. A pollution preventive burner apparatus as set forth in claim 5, in which said pressure means comprises a second bushing having a flange attached thereto, a portion of said second bushing being disposed within said chamber and in engagement with said other side of said washer, and a plurality of screws connecting said flange to said housing.

7. A valve assembly comprising a housing having walls defining first and second ports, a cylindrical valve chamber, and opposed first and second triangular orifices communicating, respectively, with said chamber and first port and with said chamber and second port; a truncated cylindrical valve member rotatably disposed within said chamber, said valve member having cylindrical surface means for being rotatably positioned to seal either of said triangular orifices against communication with said chamber, and having edge means disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of said cylindrical valve member for providing a shearing action upon the edges of said triangular orifices in response to rotation of said valve member; a valve stem connected to one end of said valve member and extending outwardly of said housing for actuation to rotate said valve member; and sealing means for providing a fluid-tight seal between said valve stem and housmg.

8. A valve assembly as set forth in claim 7, in which each said triangular orifice has a cross-sectional form of an isosceles triangle having a bisector line disposed in parallel with the axis of said valve member, and having its vertex disposed adjacent the other end of said valve member opposite said valve stem, said angular edge means of said truncated cylindrical valve member defining an angle with the axis of said valve member which is greater than the bisecting angle of each said triangular orifice.

9. A valve assembly as set forth in claim 8, in which said angular edge means is defined by a truncated portion of said cylindrical valve member, said truncated portion extending angularly along a first plane from said other end of said valve member, at a position adjacent one side thereof, through the axis of said valve member, and then angularly along a second plane from a line of intersection with said first plane, to a side of said valve member diametrically opposite said one side thereof.

10. A valve assembly as set forth in claim 9, in which said first and second planes are disposed normal to each other, and in which said second plane of said valve member is spaced from said triangular orifices in all positions of rotation of said valve member.

against said bushing.

12. A valve assembly as set forth in claim 11, in which said pressure means comprises a second bushing having a flange attached thereto, a portion of said second bushing being disposed within said chamber and in engagement with said other side of said washer, and a plurality of screws connecting said flange to said housing. 

1. A pollution preventive burner apparatus comprising a roTary cup burner; a valve having inlet port means for connection to a pressurized oil supply, and an outlet port connected to said rotary cup burner; valve control motor means and means connecting said motor means to said valve for operating said valve between open and closed positions in response to operation of said motor; and control means connected between said motor means and said burner for operating said motor means in response to temperature changes of said burner; said valve including a housing having walls defining a chamber therein, and defining first and second opposed triangular orifices in the walls of said chamber and in communication, respectively, with said inlet port means and said outlet port, a truncated cylindrical valve member rotatably disposed within said chamber, said valve member having cylindrical surface means for being rotatably positioned to seal either of said triangular orifices against communication with said chamber, and having edge means disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of said cylindrical valve member for providing a shearing action upon the edges of said triangular orifices in response to rotation of said valve member, a valve stem connected between one end of said valve member and said means connecting said motor means to said valve, and sealing means for providing a fluid-tight seal between said valve stem and housing.
 2. A pollution preventive burner apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which each said triangular orifice has a cross-sectional form of an isosceles triangle having a bisector line disposed in parallel with the axis of said valve member, and having its vertex disposed adjacent the other end of said valve member opposite said valve stem, said angular edge means of said truncated cylindrical valve member defining an angle with the axis of said valve member which is greater than the bisecting angle of each said triangular orifice.
 3. A pollution preventive burner apparatus as set forth in claim 2, in which said angular edge means is defined by a truncated portion of said cylindrical valve member, said truncated portion extending angularly along a first plane from said other end of said valve member, at a position adjacent one side thereof, through the axis of said valve member, and then angularly along a second plane from a line of intersection with said first plane, to a side of said valve member diametrically opposite said one side thereof.
 4. A pollution preventive burner apparatus as set forth in claim 3, in which said first and second planes are disposed normal to each other, and in which said second plane of said valve member is spaced from said triangular orifices in all positions of rotation of said valve member.
 5. A pollution preventive burner apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said sealing means comprises a first bushing disposed within said chamber and around said valve stem, said bushing having one end adjacent said valve member, a resilient washer disposed within said chamber and around said valve stem, said washer having one end adjacent the other end of said bushing, and pressure means connected to said housing and in engagement with the other end of said washer for compressing said washer against said bushing.
 6. A pollution preventive burner apparatus as set forth in claim 5, in which said pressure means comprises a second bushing having a flange attached thereto, a portion of said second bushing being disposed within said chamber and in engagement with said other side of said washer, and a plurality of screws connecting said flange to said housing.
 7. A valve assembly comprising a housing having walls defining first and second ports, a cylindrical valve chamber, and opposed first and second triangular orifices communicating, respectively, with said chamber and first port and with said chamber and second port; a truncated cylindrical valve member rotatably disposed within said chamber, said valve member having cylindrical surface means for being rotatably positioned to seal eIther of said triangular orifices against communication with said chamber, and having edge means disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of said cylindrical valve member for providing a shearing action upon the edges of said triangular orifices in response to rotation of said valve member; a valve stem connected to one end of said valve member and extending outwardly of said housing for actuation to rotate said valve member; and sealing means for providing a fluid-tight seal between said valve stem and housing.
 8. A valve assembly as set forth in claim 7, in which each said triangular orifice has a cross-sectional form of an isosceles triangle having a bisector line disposed in parallel with the axis of said valve member, and having its vertex disposed adjacent the other end of said valve member opposite said valve stem, said angular edge means of said truncated cylindrical valve member defining an angle with the axis of said valve member which is greater than the bisecting angle of each said triangular orifice.
 9. A valve assembly as set forth in claim 8, in which said angular edge means is defined by a truncated portion of said cylindrical valve member, said truncated portion extending angularly along a first plane from said other end of said valve member, at a position adjacent one side thereof, through the axis of said valve member, and then angularly along a second plane from a line of intersection with said first plane, to a side of said valve member diametrically opposite said one side thereof.
 10. A valve assembly as set forth in claim 9, in which said first and second planes are disposed normal to each other, and in which said second plane of said valve member is spaced from said triangular orifices in all positions of rotation of said valve member.
 11. A valve assembly as set forth in claim 7, in which said sealing means comprises a first bushing disposed within said chamber and around said valve stem, said bushing having one end adjacent said valve member, a resilient washer disposed within said chamber and around said valve stem, said washer having one end adjacent the other end of said bushing, and pressure means connected to said housing and in engagement with the other end of said washer for compressing said washer against said bushing.
 12. A valve assembly as set forth in claim 11, in which said pressure means comprises a second bushing having a flange attached thereto, a portion of said second bushing being disposed within said chamber and in engagement with said other side of said washer, and a plurality of screws connecting said flange to said housing. 